Inventors:
Daniel L. Gulling - Greenbay WI
David Cassidy - DePere WI
Craig W. Rigby - Menominee MI
Bernard F. Bentgen - Marinette WI
International Classification:
B63B 3508
Abstract:
A self-powered icebreaker attachment for connection to a parent vessel. In the preferred embodiment, the icebreaker attachment includes a spoon-shaped bow, an ice knife positioned aft of the bow, and a propulsion system including fully rotatable Z-drives. Preferably, the icebreaker attachment is itself a flotable vessel whose propulsion system can be coordinated with the propulsion system of the parent vessel to minimize ice-breaking-related forces on the parent vessel. The propulsion systems of the two vessels can be controlled by either the crew of the parent vessel or of the icebreaker attachment vessel.